👁 Cargo ships sail in the Arabian Gulf towards Strait of Hormuz in the UAE, 19 March 2026

Economy

France sends first Western European ship through Hormuz

A vessel owned by France’s CMA CGM has become the first ship tied to Western Europe to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, according to ship tracking data.

03/04/2026

👁 FILE. An activist displays a newspaper headlining the 'Panama Papers' revelations during a banking managers meeting in Paris, France, Apr. 2016

Economy

Richest 0.1% hide more wealth than the poorest half of humanity owns

The world's ultra-rich have stashed around $2.84 trillion (€2.47tn) in untaxed offshore accounts, a figure that surpasses the combined wealth of the bottom 50% of the human population, according to a new report.

02/04/2026

👁 Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the KOSPI, South Korea, 1 April 2026

Markets

Stocks jump and oil drops as Trump renews hopes of Iran war ending

European and Asian markets surged on Wednesday amid renewed hopes that the Iran war could end soon after US President Donald Trump said American troops would leave in two to three weeks with or without a deal.

01/04/2026

👁 An airplane takes off in view of a crude oil tanker from the Philadelphia International Airport, 26 March 2026

Business

Should you book holiday flights now considering jet fuel price spikes?

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in recent weeks amid the ongoing Iran war. Airlines have responded with fare increases and temporary surcharges, so should you secure tickets now or wait?

01/04/2026

👁 FILE. A shopkeeper waits for customers as jewelry is displayed at a gold market in Dubai, UAE, Apr. 2025

Markets

Gold and silver slide: Has the Iran war reversed safe-haven demand?

Gold prices have fallen nearly 25% from their record highs, even as the Iran war continues to weigh on the global economy. Why have investors turned away from the traditional safe-haven asset?

30/03/2026

👁 A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA, 13 Feb. 13 2026

Business

SpaceX IPO: Musk plans to allocate 30% of shares for retail investors

Elon Musk is preparing to allocate as much as 30% of the shares in SpaceX’s forthcoming IPO to retail investors, according to Reuters. The alleged move represents a significant departure from usual Wall Street practice.

27/03/2026

👁 FILE. The Spanish flag flies in Madrid, Oct. 2020

Economy

Spain's inflation jumps to 3.3% as Iran war drives energy costs higher

Spain's consumer prices have risen at their fastest rate since 2024, reaching 3.3% year-on-year in March, driven by surging energy costs linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to the Spanish national statistics agency.

27/03/2026

👁 Federico DeMarco works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, 25 March 2026

Markets

A month into the Iran war, bond yields surge and inflation fears mount

Nearly a month into the Iran war, government bond markets have sharply repriced. Surging oil and gas costs have stoked inflation expectations and forced a rethink on central bank policy.

26/03/2026

👁 A truck runs by containers at the Uiwang ICD Terminal in Uiwang, South Korea, 12 March 2026

Economy

Who won and who lost from a year of US tariffs?

A report published this month by the McKinsey Global Institute offers one of the most rigorous accountings of last year's trade war. Its verdict confounds almost every prediction made when the tariffs were first introduced.

26/03/2026

👁 Michael Capolino works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, 19 March 2026

Markets

Oil above $100 while stocks open lower in expectation of US-Iran talks

US stocks opened slightly lower on Tuesday while oil prices climbed higher, reflecting persistent uncertainty over the Iran war even after US President Donald Trump signalled progress in talks.

24/03/2026

👁 A view of the EPR2 construction site of the new reactors currently being built at the Penly nuclear power plant in Petit-Caux, France. 12 March 2026

Economy

Is Europe going to be forced to return to nuclear energy?

With the EU still importing over 50% of its energy and facing persistently high electricity bills, the debate over a nuclear revival to ensure independence and affordability has been reignited.

21/03/2026

👁 FILE. European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany

Economy

ECB keeps rates steady as rising energy prices fuel inflation concerns

The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its key policy rates on hold on Thursday, as fresh spikes in oil and gas prices threaten to derail recent progress in reducing inflation.

19/03/2026

👁 An explosion erupts from a building following an Israeli strike in central Beirut, Lebanon, 18 March 2026

Economy

Brent crude oil crosses $119 after Iran hit largest Qatari energy site

Brent crude oil traded briefly above $119 a barrel after Iran struck Qatar’s largest energy site, the Ras Laffan gas field. The attack was in response to Israeli strikes against the Iranian South Pars gas field.

19/03/2026

👁 Wells at the San Ardo Oil Field, California, USA, March 2026

Economy

Oil surges to $110 after Israel hits Iran's energy facilities

Brent crude oil prices surged to $110 a barrel after Israel attacked the largest gas plant and another oil facility in Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) reacted by announcing that some Gulf energy sites are "legitimate targets".

18/03/2026

👁 A customer grabs his receipt at a gas station in Portland, Oregon, USA, 16 March 2026

Economy

Moody's says US recession increasingly 'hard to avoid' amid Iran war

Moody’s Analytics model forecasts a 49% chance of a US recession in the next 12 months, the closest probability in years.

18/03/2026

👁 FILE. Iranian and US banknotes are on display at a currency exchange shop in downtown Tehran, Iran, Apr. 2015

Economy

Iran raises minimum wage by 60% as war decimates household budgets

The Iranian regime has announced a 60% increase in the minimum wage as the country grapples with the ongoing war and record inflation.

17/03/2026

👁 FILE. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent shakes hands with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during a bilateral meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2025

Economy

US Treasury chief hails 'very good' China talks ahead of Trump visit

High-level US and Chinese officials have wrapped up two days of economic discussions in Paris, with the US Secretary of Treasury describing the sessions as productive ahead of President Trump's visit to China.

16/03/2026

👁 US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One, 15 March 2026

Economy

Oil prices rise as Trump presses allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices continue to rise as the Iran war enters its third week, with President Trump pushing allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as investors react to threats facing Middle Eastern export facilities.

16/03/2026

👁 Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, 11 March 2026

Economy

US expands Russian oil waiver to all countries in bid to cool prices

The US has expanded a temporary sanctions waiver on the purchase of stranded Russian oil from India alone to all countries worldwide as part of ongoing efforts to ease pressure on global energy prices.

13/03/2026

👁 Equity prices displayed on the floor at the NYSE, New York, 4 March 2026

Markets

What are the four new companies being added to the S&P 500 in March?

S&P Global announced that four companies will join the S&P 500 index as part of its quarterly rebalance. The additions highlight the rising importance of AI infrastructure within the leading US equity benchmark.

13/03/2026